LP

May

2015

Mad Professor meets Prince Fatty in The Clone Theory

Let’s get started with names of this release: Mad Professor, Prince Fatty, Winston Francis, Earl 16, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Leroy Mafia, Sky Juice, Dean Fraser…Sounds good, right? And if you think about analog tapes from Ariwa Studio, which are the source of this LP, then you can imagine what to expect…

“Mad Professor meets Prince Fatty in The Clone Theory” consists of ten tracks full of rootical, beautiful dub. Dub at its roots, dub at its best, dub at its foundation. It sounds just excellent – this drums&bass, warm but so massive. Detuned, crazy effects known from Mad Professor’s works, wide soundscape. Dub as endless reconstruction – “Devil Dub” by Winston Francis has been moved to a real roots killer, far better than the original. “Idi Amin Dub” is another splendid rework. “Brute Dub” sounds as if it was recorded in Jamaica back in the 70s. Whether we hear more minimalistic, dark dubwise like “Back Off Dub” or more rich compositions with blazing horns like “Dub Revolution” – all of them are joined by unique, glorious, old school vibe.

Links:

www.princefatty.co.uk

www.ariwa.com

http://apple.co/1FqT1Sa

https://soundcloud.com/prince-fatty/mad-professor-meets-prince-fatty-in-the-clone-theory-minimix

May

2015

Dubateers&Zareb – “One Day”

The newest Dubateers’ album will soon hit the streets. Nick “Dubateers” – one of the pioneers of heavy dub sounds from the UK invited talented Jamaican vocalist Zareb to compose and sing over the riddims.

The first song with wicked organ sound slowly introduces us to the album. We hear “This is Zareb!” as a welcome message, the introduction continues next in “Congo Bongo Natty”, a digital riddim but when the heavy bass comes we know what is the foundation of Dubateers…And we jump into “Jah Jah A Di Ruler”, a modern dub riddim with sharp synths. LP’s title track “One Day” is a classic sound system mash-up tune in a rootical style with a fast tempo and horns part, supported by a dub version. Then the heaviest tunes take control – yes, if you know Dubateers’ rollers like these ones from “Dub From The Vaults” series then you know what kind of earthquake you can expect. A pure, digital, heavyweight style.

What is very good on this album – Zareb use his voice in many different flavours and his vocal is very catchy and melodic, from chanting to chatting. The final track – mashing “Roll River Jordan” is a great summary of this original album.

Ale take a look at beautiful, colourful, painted album’s artwork by ArtJahGuidance.

Links:

http://www.thedubateers.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/dubateers

https://www.facebook.com/zarebmusic

https://www.facebook.com/artjahguidance.reggaeartwork

https://soundcloud.com/dubateers/sets/dubateers-zareb-2015-albumlpcd

Apr

2015

Beam Up – “Innerstand”

We have already mentioned Beam Up a couple of times (http://dubmassive.org/tag/beam-up) but album named ‘Innerstand’ will be a surprise for many of you. Until now they have been releasing genius 7’s, presenting variety of dub and giving a tribute to King Tubby, so I’ve been avidly waiting for the full album to take me on a musical trip.

Listening to it I got to Berlin and felt the Rhythm&Soundz climate, additionally meeting Terrence Alfonso Bowry, a vocalist whose main styles are blues and jazz what you can hear clearly in ‘Hanabi Dub’. The trip goes on in the direction of the hot islands accompanied by a woman with an amazing voice – Katya Tasheva in ‘Diviers’ could calm down even most nervous people using her voice. Suddenly, we land not in Jamaica but in the Land of The Rising Sun which inspired Beam Up to create ‘Kick off’, which is by the way a destination of many dub musicians. As the trip continues and in Jamaica I meet an African singer Jornick Joelick in ‘No chains’, who makes me realize what the mental slavery is and how hard it is to be free nowadays. I get back to Berlin for a small rest with “Terrence Alfonso Bowry’ in ‘Mi amor’ as it is only half of the journey. Next I get back to Asia by sounds of the ‘Fisherman’. Jornick Joelick tells me about how pleasure are journeys in ‘Travelling’ that takes me back to Jamaica and then with ‘Icchiebn’ I taste ska. After that we permanently get back to Europe where Terrence Alfonso Bowry welcomes us nicely in the rhythm of the ‘Ghost Fight’ to fall asleep by minimal sounds of the ‘Innocence’ and admire the sky with the beautiful sounds of ‘Astronomy dub’. This is how the unusual trip with Beam Up and his great friends ends.

One thing is certain – Beam Up can take me on such a journey everyday and I encourage you to open for this beautiful sounds conjured by Beam Up. Dub knows no borders!

Links:

http://beamup.org/

https://soundcloud.com/bbemusic/beam-up-innerstand-teaser-mix

Apr

2015

Mungo’s Hi Fi new releases with Charlie P, Blackout JA, Mr Williamz

Mungo’s Hi Fi are very active. Soon after great albums with remixes (http://dubmassive.org/tag/mungos-hi-fi) they present another releases.

We will start from a LP, where the crew meets excellent ragamuffin and sound system warrior – Charlie P. After plenty of singles and collaborations the time for a full release has come for this young and talented vocalist, who has started his musical journey when he was a kid.

This showcase presents both Mungo’s and Charlie P from their best side. Classic and modern reggae/dancehall vibes, future bass sounds and dubstep rhythms, all combined with singing, deejaying, fast chatting. Fire on the dancefloors guaranteed.

https://soundcloud.com/scotchbonnetrecords/sets/mungos-hi-fi-ft-charlie-p-you

Next releases are 7” also with very talented vocalists singing over digital riddims: Mr Williamz sings over G20 riddim and Blackout JA – here we get him over Imitators riddim. We get also clean version on the flip side.

https://soundcloud.com/scotchbonnetrecords/mungos-hi-fi-give-thanks-to-jah-ft-mr-williamz

https://soundcloud.com/scotchbonnetrecords/mungos-hi-fi-freedom-come-ft-blackout-ja

All releases, besides vinyl edition, are available also in digital formats, check Mungo’s Hi Fi shop on their website.

Links:

www.scotchbonnet.net

Apr

2015

John Brown’s Body – “Kings And Queens In Dub” (Easy Star Records)

American band John Brown’s Body released on 7th of April the dub version of their album “Kings and Queens”. Just quick look on the artists, who was invited to cooperate in “Kings And Queens In Dub”, told me, that this will be good…Ticklah, Dubmatix, Dubfader (of 10 Ft. Ganja Plant), UK legend Dennis Bovell, Yesking, Michael G (of Easy Star All-Stars), Lord Echo (of The Black Seeds) and more…The second thought came after reading their inspiration – classic dub albums by Burning Spear, Aswad & others – yes, it sounded really good.

And it sounds very good. The music. Dubbing at its best, a classic, old-school way, based on solid drum&bass, filled with excellent effects, surrounded by wide soundscape. Flying snippets of vocals, music flowing through low-mid-hi paths, resonating echoes, reverbs. Music served in a dubwise fashion, with a great balance between its parts, with care about the overall sound and each, smallest note.

For me such albums are like your the most favourite, beloved dish. You know what to expect but each time you are completely delighted how splendid it can taste.

https://soundcloud.com/johnbrownsbody/pulsing-dub

Links:

http://www.johnbrownsbody.com

Apr

2015

MrDill Lion Warriah – “Music is a Mission”

After a lot of productions (i.a. http://dubmassive.org/7731/pressure-dub-sound-2) MrDill Lion Warriah released his debut album “Mission is a Mission”. The publisher is an independent Italian label 4Weed Records that MrDill is connected with. Following their own description the album is based on rhythms with a deep bass and lyrics fit to the current state of life, with a taste of dubstep style. A big asset of the disc, besides the strong lyrics, are rhythms by various producers from the top of the dub scene. We can hear Neil Perch from Zion Train (tune ‘Another Story’ has been described here http://dubmassive.org/en/9518/rudebwoy-corporation-ep-lions-den); Sweden’s Fischerman with a genious version of ‘Babylon Illusions’; there is also strong Italian-based crew: Linea Di Massa (Italy/Brasil), Mystical Powa (Italy), Dub All Sense (Italy/UK), Dziga (Italy/UK), Delta Dub (Italy). Plus Dubmatix from Canada and Monkey Jhayam from Barsil. The album contains 12 tracks – 7 regular ones, 4 dub versions and an amazing intro enchanted by legendary Dub Dadda. MrDill chatting and singing very consciously criticises contemporary society. Lack of freedom takes a beating in “I am not a robot”, shifting values and killing basic rights in “Babylon Illusions”, economy and any destruction it brings in “No Tribal War” and any repressions directed in the youth in “Hard time fi di youth”. In “Step outta Babylon” he gives us a hope of better tomorrow and a getaway from Babylon and in “Jah Jah knows” shows his spiritual self. To sum up – it’s a great album where everything harmonizes and the music is a real mission, 100% successful debut even though MrDill is an experienced warrior. We wish him as much as possible albums like that!

Apr

2015

Zion Train – “Land Of The Blind” LP

Almost four years after after the last album “State Of Mind” Zion Train – modern dub pioneers – give us their new, full length release. As with the previous one we get the mixture of vocal tracks and pure instrumental vibes. We hear well known Zion Train’s voices – Dubdadda, Jazzmin Tutum, Fitta Warri but also new singers – Daman (who has already cooperated with DJ Perch on “Money” EP), Kathika R Abbit and Longfingah. Also many musicians were invited – Finn Todd (melodica), Don Fe (flute), David Fullwood added his unique sound of the trumpet, Lucas Petter (trombone), Gianni Denitto (Alto Saxophone) and Vedran Meniga (Drum kit).

The album consists of 13 tracks with a lot of instrumental sounds, even some tracks with vocalists are not fully covered by them, only some verses are included . For me it’s great, I have always been a big fan of instrumental works of Neil Perch and this album has lot of pure dub music! “The Great Flood – Gaia’s Tears” (masterpiece!), “Inner Vision”, “We Are Water” or “No ID” with Daman are musical stories told by wicked rhythm and dub soundscape, flowing through dub effects. We have also some more steady melodies (“Dry Your Tears”, beautiful “Tranquillity Through Humility” or “Roots Man Play/Permanent Pressure” with Dub Dadda and Fitta Warri), killers ready to fire on dancefloor like “Dirty Dunza” or rootical, bouncy “Land Of The Blind” and a few average tunes.

Many years on the dub scene, so many releases and Zion Train still can surprise me. I can describe this album as something like good-old style nicely flavoured with some new, wild and hot spices. I wish that the next album was entirely based on the taste of “The Great Flood” or “We are Water” – for me it would be one of the most awaited releases.

“Land Of The Blind” is available as 2×12” or digital download.

Links:

http://www.wobblyweb.com/zt/

https://soundcloud.com/zion-train/sets/land-of-the-blind-teaser

Apr

2015

Dubdadda “Lo-Fi Pon De Hi-Fi” reissued on vinyl!

This is a great news! Thanks to Moonshine Recordings Dubadda’s solo album “Lo-Fi Pon De Hi-Fi” is now available on vinyl. Mostly known from his works with Zion Train, in 2004 Dubdadda composed, recorded and released (CD) this great music in his own label Dub Hooligan Records. In my opinion this is one of the best dub albums from 2000s, with unique, distinct sound, great energy and lyrics, all of this coming from such charismatic dub personality.